TelOne requires US$76 million to roll countrywide fibre optic network

Published: 10 June 2013

FIXED telecommunications service provider TelOne says it requires at least US$76 million to roll out its fibre optic network across the country, The Sunday Mail Business has learnt.

The telecoms company says it needs about US$28 million to cover the 934-kilometre stretch from Harare to Kariba, US$7 million to cover the Harare to Mutare route, US$15 million for the 450 kilometres from Harare to Bulawayo route, US$15 million for Bulawayo to Victoria Falls and US$12 million to cover Bulawayo to Beitbridge.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 7th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Business Conference, TelOne managing director Mrs Chipo Mtasa said TelOne is currently sponsoring projects from its own internally generated revenues.

"TelOne is currently implementing projects from own generated funds as we (as a country) migrate to new technologies, and certainly external funds will assist to speed up the process as required by all businesses the world over.

Currently, we need at least US$76 million to role out the plan," said Mrs Mtasa.

The company has already rolled out optic fibre from Mutare to Harare under Phase 1 carried out in 2010.

It has also completed the Harare-Bulawayo route in May 2012 under Phase 2.

She, however, added that the Harare to Bulawayo cable has add and drop Points of Presence (PoPs) in Norton, Chegutu, Kadoma, Kwekwe and Gweru where other major centres can create a joint to tap into the main service.

TelOne currently offers the least expensive broadband internet services via its Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) service.

It is also the only major Zimbabwean company that has equity in the East African Cable System (EASSy), through WIOCC, a firm partly owned by a consortium of 14 African telecoms operators.

TelOne accesses EASSy and SEACOM via Mozambique (TDM) and South Africa (InfraCo).

EASSy is an under-sea fibre optic cable system connecting East African countries to the rest of the world, while SEACOM is a private venture offering wholesale broadband services and products.
- Zimpapers

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